Press Release
PhotonDelta and Silicon Catalyst Announce Strategic Collaboration to Drive Innovation for Early-Stage Photonic Startups
Collaboration covers access to Silicon Catalyst’s comprehensive incubation program to deliver expertise and access to funding
Silicon Valley, California and Eindhoven, Netherlands - March 31, 2025 – Photonic chip accelerator PhotonDelta has established a strategic collaboration with Silicon Catalyst, the world’s only incubator and accelerator focused on the global semiconductor industry. Over the last five years, PhotonDelta has raised close to $1.5 billion to accelerate the commercialization of the photonics industry.
The collaboration brings together two of the leading ecosystems focused on semiconductors and photonics. Both companies will work to enable photonics startups to scale successfully by providing a range of services, from access to subject matter experts and advisors, go-to-market business development and access to investors. This will provide a vital avenue for early-stage photonics startups to gain access to unparalleled expertise and funding opportunities. PhotonDelta will provide support from its world-leading photonics ecosystem to the Silicon Catalyst Portfolio Companies.
PhotonDelta is a non-profit organization supporting an end-to-end value chain for photonic chips that designs, develops, and manufactures innovative solutions that contribute to a better world. Leveraging funding from the National Growth Fund of the Netherlands, alongside strategic investments, PhotonDelta is focused on accelerating the innovation cycle for early-stage companies targeting the photonic chip industry.
Silicon Catalyst has developed an unparalleled support ecosystem with over 500 partners, for its semiconductor start-ups, providing a strong network of Strategic Partners, technical and business advisors, investors and industry professionals who help companies to launch and scale in the market. In addition, the incubator’s In-Kind Partners provide privileged access to services, expertise, and intellectual property that can help commercialize their companies’ technological innovation.
PhotonDelta’s ecosystem currently comprises over 70 different organizations that form a complete value chain, including design services, multiple foundries for photonic chip fabrication, packaging, assembly and testing, and an increasing number of fabless companies that use PIC technology for innovative solutions. It runs scores of R&D programs, leads international road mapping activities and invests in pioneering startups that apply photonics technology.
Eelko Brinkhoff, CEO at PhotonDelta - “In many ways the photonics sector is in the same position as the semiconductor industry was 30 years ago. There is unprecedented potential for growth, innovation and disruption. However, we are at a delicate part of the journey. To grasp the opportunities in the market, photonics companies need the right intellectual, practical and financial support to achieve their potential. The collaboration is the latest step in PhotonDelta’s mission to accelerate the global integrated photonics industry and provides a unique and powerful combination of expertise, partners and funding opportunities which will help cultivate a new generation of global companies.”
Pete Rodriguez, Silicon Catalyst CEO - “Silicon Catalyst has established an unparalleled incubator + accelerator ecosystem within the semiconductor industry. PhotonDelta has built a world-leading photonics ecosystem, historically serving the European market. Our collaboration with PhotonDelta is akin to pairing a research and development lab with our full-service business development program for early-stage photonics enterprises. By combining the power of our complementary ecosystems, PhotonDelta and Silicon Catalyst hope to unleash a new wave of transformative innovation and growth within the photonics sector on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Exhibiting at OFC at Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco
PhotonDelta and Silicon Catalyst will be in attendance at OFC in San Francisco, taking place from March 31 through April 3. Executives from both parties will be present at the exhibition area and will be available to provide further details about the collaboration at OFC booth #6505.
Background on Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC)
Photonics Chips or Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) which, when integrated into microchips, allow for the creation of smaller, faster and more energy-efficient devices. Photonic chips can sense, process and transmit data much more effectively than their electronic counterparts. Just like with traditional chips, the production process is carried out using automatic wafer-scale technology. This allows the chips to be mass-produced, reducing costs.
Besides the usage of PIC technology in data centers for enhanced performance and reduced energy consumption, integrated photonics also holds enormous opportunities for quantum computing and sensing solutions for new applications in healthcare, agriculture and automotive. To drive this innovation, PhotonDelta secured $1.5 billion to run numerous R&D programs, lead international road mapping activities and invest in pioneering startups that apply PIC technology. Over the last five years, PhotonDelta has raised over $500 million for companies.
Crucially, photonic chips can overcome the expected limit to Moore’s Law and will also help tackle energy sustainability issues. Photonic chips are currently used in the data and telecom industry to reduce energy consumption per bit and increase speeds. With data and internet use expected to be around 10% of global electricity consumption by 2027, photonic chips provide a powerful way to limit the impact on the climate. Photonic chips will also soon play an important role for innovative sensors that can be mass-produced, leading to earlier diagnostics of diseases, safe autonomous vehicles and infrastructure, and more efficient food production.